What to Know Before Diving at Haigh Quarry

Haigh Quarry is a scuba diving site in Kankakee, Illinois, that bills itself as the "Caribbean of the Midwest." Before you go, plan around three things: the $30 per-person daily entry fee for divers, the online liability form you must complete and print at home, and the seasonal hours—in October the quarry is open weekends as normal and weekdays by appointment, with a closing date of October 30. You can also check current water temperature and visibility before your trip.

Entry Cost and Paperwork

  • Entry fee: $30 per diver, per day. This is the only price stated on the site's home page; class pricing is listed separately on the quarry's Pricing page.
  • Liability form: Complete the online liability form, print it at home, and bring it with you. The quarry states this gets you into the water faster.
  • Rules: Review the Rules & Regulations page before arriving. Note that there is no parking on Haigh Quarry property or the road between 11 pm and 5 am.

Hours and Season

The home page gives October-specific hours: open weekends as normal, weekdays by appointment, closing October 30. For current hours outside that note, check the Quarry Hours page, since the site says hours are updated there.

Conditions Before You Go

The quarry maintains a Temps & Visibility page that it says is regularly updated. It shows water temperature, visibility, and local outside temperatures for today and the coming week. Checking this before packing your exposure protection is the practical way to decide what to wear.

Reservations and Rental Gear

  • The quarry takes reservations for groups of all sizes and will have rental gear ready for you.
  • You can reserve equipment in advance or pick it out when you arrive.
  • It carries "all of the equipment you need for a safe and fun dive," according to the site.

Classes and Certification

If you are not yet certified or want to advance, the site lists classes under Introduction, Certification, Specialties, Professional, and Other. Pricing for classes is on a separate Pricing page.

Events and Other Resources

The quarry adds events such as Diver Appreciation Day and says vendors host many events each year. Other on-site resources include a quarry map, bathymetry map, artifact park, FAQs, reviews, directions, area map, and information on Kankakee County accommodations and restaurants.

Quick Pre-Trip Checklist

  1. Confirm the date falls within open hours (weekends as normal in October; weekdays by appointment).
  2. Complete and print the online liability form.
  3. Check Temps & Visibility for water and air conditions.
  4. Reserve rental gear and any group reservation in advance.
  5. Review Rules & Regulations, including the 11 pm–5 am no-parking rule.

Contact: 2738 E 2000N Rd, Kankakee, IL 60901 | 815.939.7797

haighquarry.com